Stack 

Annex 

L 

13 

L12h 


History  and  Constitute 
Society  for  the  Pro*- 
at  +^' 


le  Ladies1 
Education 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


n  cmfc  Constitution 


OF    THE 


LADIES5  SOCIETY  FOR  THE  PROMOTION 


OF 


EDUCATION  AT  THE  WEST. 


HISTORY 

or 

THE     FORMATION 

OF 

THE   LADIES'   SOCIETY 

FOR    THE 

PROMOTION  OF  EDUCATION 
AT  THE  WEST; 

WITH 

TWO    ADDRESSES,    DELIVERED    AT     ITS    ORGANIZATION, 

BY  THE  REV.  EDWARD  BEECHER,  D.D., 

AND 

REV.  E.  N.  KIRK. 


BOSTON: 

PRINTED  BY  HENRY  MASON,  118  STATE  STREET. 
1846. 


STACK  ANNOf 

L 


HISTORY. 


The  book  published  last  summer,  entitled  "  The 
Duty  of  American  Women  to  their  Country,"  having 
been  read  by  ladies  of  different  denominations,  in  Boston 
and  elsewhere,  a  simultaneous  wish  was  expressed  to 
take  immediate  action  on  the  subject  of  sending  pious 
female  teachers  to  the  West. 

When  the  Mission  Sewing  Circle  connected  with 
Mount  Vernon  Church  and  Society  met,  in  October,  to 
organize  for  the  winter,  this  subject  was  presented,  and 
a  few  ladies  agreed  to  meet  at  an  early  day  to  converse, 
and,  if  possible,  lay  some  plan  for  a  future  society  to  be 
organized.  This  informal  meeting  was  held  at  Deacon 
Safford's,  October  22,  and  about  twenty  ladies  were 
present.  All  appeared  deeply  interested,  and  expressed 
a  wish  to  do  something  at  once  for  the  object,  but  no 
one  felt  prepared  to  tell  how  to  begin.  However,  before 
they  separated,  the  ladies  chose  one  of  their  number  a 
committee  to  seek  for  the  knowledge  so  much  needed, 
and,  if  able  to  obtain  it,  the  Committee  was  authorized 
to  call  a  meeting  and  report. 


881917 


4  HISTORY. 

The  following  week  this  Committee  conversed  with 
several  of  the  city  pastors,  and  with  a  large  number  of 
the  most  influential  ladies  connected  with  churches  of 
various  denominations  in  the  city.  The  pastors  ex- 
pressed an  interest  in  the  enterprize,  and  a  willingness 
to  do  all  they  could  to  promote  it,  but  were  not  pre- 
pared to  mark  out  any  precise  course  for  the  ladies  to 
pursue. 

The  ladies,  also,  expressed  a  strong  interest  in  the 
cause,  and  wished  to  make  an  immediate  effort.  At  the 
suggestion  of  one  of  the  pastors,  the  Committee  wrote 
to  Professor  Stowe,  of  Lane  Seminary,  a  member  of  the 
Central  Committee  at  Cincinnati.  The  Professor  returned 
an  immediate  answer,  urging  the  ladies  to  make  a 
beginning  with  as  little  delay  as  possible. 

Another  informal  meeting  was  soon  called,  and  ladies 
of  several  churches  invited  to  attend  it.  Four  of  the 
Congregational  Churches  of  this  city  were  represented. 
After  a  very  free  conversation,  it  was  unanimously 
agreed  to  form  a  Society  for  selecting,  aiding,  and  send- 
ing pious  female  teachers  to  the  West,  as  soon  as  suitable 
preparations  could  be  made. 

It  was  not  thought  to  be  expedient  to  embrace  all 
denominations  in  one  organization,  as  each  denomina- 
tion would  be  likely  to  labor  more  harmoniously  and 
efficiently  by  itself. 

At  this  meeting  the  ladies  instructed  their  former 
Committee  to  write  to  all  her  acquaintance  among 
pastors,  home  missionaries,  and  Christian  friends,  at 
the  West,  and  request  their  aid  in  finding  good  loca- 
tions for  female  schools,  and  a  respectable  home  for 
those  young  ladies  who  may  be  willing  to  go  out  as 
teachers. 

A  large  number  of  letters  has  been  forwarded  to  the 
West,  and  some  answers,  full  of  encouragement,  have 


HISTORY.  5 

been  received,  and  it  is  presumed  that  many  others  are 
now  on  their  way. 

A  meeting,  preparatory  to  the  organization  of  a 
Society,  was  held  at  Deacon  Safford's,  January  28,  at 
which  eight  Congregational  Churches  in  Boston  were 
represented.  This  meeting  was  conducted  with  the 
greatest  harmony,  and  all  its  proceedings  marked  with 
perfect  unanimity. 

Letters  from  Dr.  Beecher,  of  Cincinnati,  Professor 
Stowe,  of  Lane  Seminary,  and  others,  were  read ;  and 
some  articles  of  agreement  were  presented,  and  very 
closely  investigated ;  and  finally  a  unanimous  opinion 
was  expressed  that  a  Society,  embracing  Congregation- 
alists  only,  in  New  England,  be  organized  on  the  4th  of 
February,  1846. 

The  Rev.  Edward  Beecher,  D.D.,  and  the  Rev.  E.  N. 
Kirk,  were  invited  to  address  the  meeting  at  the  time  of 
organization,  and  an  invitation  was  sent  to  all  the 
Pastors  of  Congregational  Churches  in  the  city  to  attend, 
and  recommend  the  object  of  the  Society  to  the  confi- 
dence and  support  of  their  congregations.  The  meeting 
was  then  dissolved. 


ORGANIZATION. 

"THE  LADIES'  SOCIETY  FOR  THE  PROMOTION  OF  EDUCATION 
AT  THE  WEST"  was  organized,  in  the  Mount  Vernon 
Chapel,  in  Boston,  February  4,  1846. 

The  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer,  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Blagden. 

The  history  of  the  origin  and  progress  of  the  Society, 
and  some  letters  from  the  West,  were  read  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Kirk. 


HISTORY. 


The  annexed  Constitution  was  then  read  and  adopted, 
and  the  following  Board  of  Managers  elected;  after 
which  interesting  addresses  were  made  by  Dr.  Edward 
Beecher  and  Rev.  Mr.  Kirk. 


Mrs.  SAMUEL  HUBBARD,  President. 
Mra.  WM.  G.  LAMBERT,  Vice-President. 
Mrs.  HENRY  M.  HOLBROOK,  Vice-President. 
Miss  CATHERINE  SCOLLAY,  Treasurer. 
Miss  SARAH  TUTTLE,  Secretary. 


Park  Street    Church  —  Mrs.  WM.  T.  EUSTIS  and  Mrs.  L.  M.  STIMPSON. 

Bowdoin  Street  ,,  — Mrs.  MOSES  L.  HALE  and  Mrs.  J.  BANCROFT. 

Old  South  ,,  — Mrs.  CHARLES  STODDARD  and  Mrs.  PICKENS, 

Essex  Street  ,,  — Mrs.  WILKINSON  and  Mrs.  STEEL. 

Pine  Street  ,,  — Mrs.  ELIPH.  KIMBALL  and  Mrs.  WILLET. 

Suffolk  Union  ,,  — Mrs.  ALDEN  and  Mrs.  WILKINS. 

Central  Union  ,,  — Mrs.  J.  C.  PROCTOR  and  Mrs.  N.  CAHRUTH. 

North  Union  ,,  — Mrs.  HOUGHTON  and  Mrs.  WHITON. 

Salem  Street  ,,  — Mrs.  L.  J.  JARVIS  and  Mrs.  J.  B.  BUCK. 

Mount  Vernon  „  — Mrs.  G.  W.  CROCKETT  and  Mrs.  D.  SAFFOHD. 


Committee. 

Mrs.  SAMUEL  HUBBARD,  Park  Street. 
Mrs.  WILLIAM  G.  LAMBERT,  Bowdoin  Street. 
Mrs.  HENRY  M.  HOLBROOK,  Old  South. 
Mrs.  WILLIAM  T.  EUSTIS,  Park  Street. 
Mrs.  DANIEL  SAFFORD,  Mount  Vernon. 
Miss  CATHERINE  SCOLLAY,  Mount  Vernon. 
Miss  SARAH  TUTTLE,  Mount  Vernon. 


DR.  BEECHER'S  ADDRESS. 


I  rejoice  to  see  this  day  and  this  meeting ;  for  it  is  the? 
first  effort  to  take  hold  with  system  of  a  department  too- 
long  neglected,  —  the  organization  of  females,  and  the 
systematized  application  of  female  power  in  the  great 
work  of  Education,  especially  at  the  West. 

I  say  too  long  neglected  —  I  mean  by  us  Protestants, 
for  by  the  Romanists  it  has  not  been  neglected.  One 
of  the  wisest  and  most  powerful  parts  of  that  system  is 
the  organized  use  that  it  makes  of  the  female  mind  in 
this  great  work. 

I  hold  in  my  hands  a  full  development  of  their  system 
in  this  particular  in  our  country,  as  exhibited  in  the 
Metropolitan  Catholic  Almanac  for  the  present  year, 
from  which  I  shall  make  some  statements  of  facts  as  I 
proceed. 

Of  all  departments  of  benevolent  enterprize  at  the 
West,  education  is  the  most  important.  The  end  of  all 
our  efforts  should  be  to  make  the  West  a  self-educating 
and  self-supplying  community.  It  is  in  vain  to  think  of 
supplying  them  permanently  with  ministers  and  teachers 
from  the  East.  Unless,  therefore,  a  complete  system  of 
education  is  organized,  all  other  efforts  must  fail. 

Nor*  is  it  enough  to  provide  colleges,  and  theological 
seminaries,  to  educate  men  —  the  work  is  but  half  done 
if  the  female  mind  is  not  elevated  in  the  same  proportion 
as  that  of  the  other  sex.  And  whose  duty  is  it,  if  not  of 


8  DR.  BEECHER'S  ADDRESS. 

females  situated  as  those  of  New  England  are,  to  see 
that  it  is  done  ? 

And  yet  no  organized  effort  has  ever  been  made  by 
them  to  do  anything  of  this  kind  for  the  West.  For 
example :  We  have  labored  to  establish  a  theological 
seminary  at  Cincinnati,  and  a  college  at  Crawfordsville, 
in  Indiana ;  but  no  organized  effort  has  been  made  to 
sustain  female  schools.  Meantime  the  Catholics  have 
been  indefatigable.  The  results  are  as  might  have  been 
expected.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter  to  Mrs. 
Stowe,  taken  from  the  '  New  York  Evangelist,'  will 
present  the  matter  in  a  vivid  light :  — 

"  I  have  j  ust  laid  aside  the  volume  entitled  '  The  Duty  of 
American  Women  to  their  Country,'  and  take  up  my  pen  to 
address  you  on  the  subject.  Our  common  schools  in  this 
State  are  in  a  deplorable  condition,  and  few  competent  teachers 
are  to  be  found  among  us.  But  I  write  especially  to  inquire 
for  teachers  for  a  Female  High  School.  J  knmv  of  no  Pro- 
testant Female  Institution  in  the  State,  where  a  young  lady 
can  receive  a  thorough  education.  The  Catholic  female 
institution  at  St.  Mary's  has  a  large  number  of  young  ladies 
from  this  part  of  the  State.  A  number  of  our  students  in  our 
colleges  have  sisters  there  ;  but  they  are  not  satisfied,  and  only 
go  there  because  they  know  not  where  else  to  go  to  finish  their 
education.  Had  we  only  suitable  accommodations  and  teachers 
here,  scholars  would  not  be  wanting." 

Mrs.  Stowe  proceeds : — 

"  A  clergyman  in  Indiana  states,  also,  that  many  of  the 
daughters  of  their  most  influential  political  men  are  at  Catholic 
seminaries,  and  that  he  could  not  prevent  even  the  members  of 
his  own  church  from  doing  the  same  thing,  because,  as  they 
said,  '  there  were  no  other  good  schools.'  Thus  the  wives  and 
mothers  of  the  future  chief  men  of  that  state  are  being  trained 
by  Catholics." 


DR.  BEECHER'S  ADDRESS.  9 

Of  what  use  is  it  now  to  go  on  and  educate  one-half 
of  the  community,  and  then,  by  leaving  the  other  half  in 
the  hands  of  the  Catholics,  to  undo  all  that  we  have 
been  laboring  to  effect?  for  it  is  impossible  to  rear  a 
Protestant  nation  without  Protestant  mothers. 

I  do  not  say  that  no  efforts  have  been  made  by  female 
enterprize  to  establish  schools  at  the  West  —  honorable 
efforts  have  been  made ;  but  they  have  been  individual 
efforts,  and  in  a  work  of  this  kind  the  organized  power 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  will  tire  out  individual 
effort. 

Look  now  and  see  what  the  Catholics  have  been  doing 
in  this  same  State  of  Indiana,  where  there  is  not  one 
good  Protestant  female  high  school.  Though  the 
Catholic  population  of  the  State  is  but  25,000,  they 
have  four  female  seminaries  established  at  the  most 
important  points  in  the  State: — at  Fort  Wayne,  and 
at  Vincennes,  and  at  Jasper,  Dubois  Co.,  and  at  Madi- 
son, and  one  near  Terra  Haute ;  and  this  is  but  a 
specimen  of  what  they  are  doing  all  over  the  West. 
Indeed,  out  of  sixty-eight  Catholic  female  seminaries, 
forty-five  are  at  the  West.  What  does  this  look  like 
but  a  deliberate  purpose  to  proselyte  the  West,  by  the 
power  of  the  female  mind  ? 

Nor  are  such  efforts  to  be  despised.  The  power  of 
highly-educated  female  minds  is  immense.  It  is  not 
obtruded  and  forced  on  our  notice  as  is  that  of  men,  but 
it  is  real,  deep,  and  all-pervading.  I  never  enter  a 
female  seminary  without  feeling  that  the  ruling  minds  of 
a  nation  are  as  really  trained  there  as  in  our  colleges 
and  theological  seminaries ;  indeed,  without  them  we 
have  but  half  a  system,  and  the  power  of  every  great 
movement  is  paralyzed. 

By  the  formation  of  this  Society  a  great  vacuum  in 
our  plans  is  filled.  It  is  the  first  organization  of  Eastern 


10  DR.  BEECHER^S  ADDRESS. 

females  to  undertake  the  great  work  of  education  at  the 
West.  May  God  grant  that  it  be  not  the  last.  May  its 
influence  extend,  till  all  the  Protestant  female  mind  of 
the  East  be  organized,  and  devoted  to  the  great  work  of 
educating  the  West.  It  is  all,  and  more  than  all,  needed 
to  meet  the  efforts  of  our  crafty  antagonists. 

We  have  very  inadequate  ideas  of  what  they  are 
doing  in  this  way.  Females  are  organized  into  various 
orders,  bound  together  by  sacred  vows  for  life.  In  the 
name  of  the  order,  an  appeal  is  made  to  some  principle 
of  imagination  or  sympathy,  or  sacred  emotion — as  in 
the  order  of  the  "Sacred  Heart,"  or  "Holy  Blood/'  &c. 
There  is  a  mother-house,  and  branches  of  this  are  esta- 
blished all  over  the  nation. 

Thus  near  Emmetsburg,  Maryland,  is  the  Mother- 
house  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  numbering  at  present 
one  hundred  and  eleven.  Besides  this,  there  are  two 
hundred  and  fifty-seven  employed  as  missionaries  and 
teachers  through  our  land.  They  have  thirty-seven 
establishments  under  their  care. 

What  permanency  and  power  is  there  in  one  such 
organization!  Nothing  is  left  to  individual  enterprize: 
each  in  every  order  is  strengthened  by  the  power  of  the 
whole  church.  And  what  a  place  of  power  does  that 
female  fill  who  is  at  the  head  of  one  of  these  orders,  and 
has  her  eye  upon  so  wide  a  field  of  action,  with  power  to 
direct  so  many  educated,  devoted,  and  enterprising  female 
minds  1 

There  is,  indeed,  an  element  of.  power  in  their  system 
that  we  reject  as  fraught  with  ruinous  consequences  on 
the  great  scale  —  I  mean  celibacy ;  yet  it  is  an  element 
of  great  power,  as  it  renders  their  organizations  inde- 
pendent, permanent,  and  complete. 

But  organizations  like  this,  if  widely  extended,  and 
vigorously  used,  by  the  Protestant  female  world,  may  be 


DR.  BEEPER'S  ADDRESS.  11 

made  more  than  a  counterpoise  to  this  peculiar  Roman 
Catholic  power.  To  the  Protestant  females,  then,  of 
these  Eastern  States  I  would  say,  Organize  —  organize 
—  and  bring  your  combined  power  to  bear  on  the  educa- 
tion of  the  West.  It  is  a  field  that  above  all  others  calls 
for  your  labors. 

Two  things  there  exist  — *  a  present  inability  to  act  for 
themselves.,  and  a  great  susceptibility  of  influence  if 
acted  on.  They  are  unable  to  act,  because  society  is 
new,  the  community  weak,  the  materials  heterogeneous, 
and  those  who  are  fit  to  lead  in  the  work  of  forming 
systems  of  education  are  in  the  minority.  Yet  they  are 
susceptible  of  influence,  for  the  prevailing  spirit  of  the 
age  calls  for  Education,  and  the  desire  of  local  improve- 
ment leads  •every  community  to  favor  efforts  to  establish 
educational  institutions. 

If  any  suggest,  Wait  till  they  are  able  to  establish 
their  own  institutions,  —  I  reply,  If  we  wait,  the  Papacy 
will  not.  If  we  sleep,  the  enemy  will  sow  tares.  If  any 
still  suggest,  there  is  no  religious  danger  from  the  educa- 
tional efforts  of  the  Catholics,  read  the  following  extract 
from  the  article  already  referred  to :  — 

"  Among  the  printed  regulations  of  these  schools  we  find 
these :  '  All  the  young  ladies  are  required  to  conform  to 
the  public  worship  of  the  house"  (i.e.,  to  join  in  worshipping 
the  Virgin  and  Saints),  '  but  no  undue  influence  is  exerted  over 
their  religious  principles.'  '  All  written  communications  are 
subject  to  the  inspection  of  the  tutoress.'" 

What  is  not  undue  influence  may  be  learned  from 
Bishop  Smith,  and  others  who  receive  pupils  who  have 
previously  attended  such  schools.  The  influence  there 
exerted,  they  affirm,  "ordinarily  produces  one  of  three 
results  —  either  a  change  to  Catholicism,  or  great  con- 


12  DR.  BEECHER'S  ADDRESS. 

tempt  for  Protestant  opinions  and  practises,  or  reckless 
infidelity  and  hatred  of  all  religion." 

But  we  do  not  need  such  facts ;  the  nature  of  the  case 
shows  that  the  Catholic  educational  system  is  expressly 
designed  as  a  part  of  a  great  system  of  proselytism  — 
and  will  it  not  be  used  for  its  real  end  ?  In  view  of 
these  facts,  it  has  been  well  said,  "  It  is  equally  bad 
taste  and  bad  Christianity  to  revile  and  sneer  —  as  many 
seem  disposed  to  do  —  at  such  efforts  of  the  Catholic 
church."  A  gentleman  of  intelligence  recently  remarked, 
with  regard  to  the  Catholics  and  Protestants  at  the  West, 
"  The  Catholics  work,  but  the  Protestants  scold :  of 
course  the  Catholics  advance  the  quickest."  Now  this 
is  not  true  in  every  department  of  effort ;  but,  unfor- 
tunately, in  regard  to  education  it  is  true.  There  is  no 
Protestant  denomination,  either  at  the  East  or  the  West, 
that  is  even  beginning"  to  do  in  this  field  what  the 
Catholics  are  doing,  nor  any  that  might  not  with  great 
advantage  take  a  lesson  from  them.  As  long  as  this  is 
so,  of  course  the  Catholics  will  succeed,  for  the  laws  of 
God's  system  are  on  their  side. 

But  if  Protestant  females  will  take  hold  of  the  work, 
in  good  earnest,  they  can  easily  surpass  the  Catholics. 
True,  the  unity  and  centralization  of  their  system,  and 
their  principles  of  celibacy,  give  them  for  a  time  vast 
power,  but  they  will  ultimately  ruin  the  system  to  which 
they  belong.  We  have  renounced  and  abhor  them. 

But  we  have  unspeakable  advantages  over  them  if  we 
will  use  them  aright.  The  nature  and  history  of  our 
institutions  are  a  constant  force  on  our  side,  and  against 
them.  There  is  great  power  of  enterprise  and  action  in 
innumerable  female  hearts  scattered  through  our  land, 
and  it  needs  only  to  be  called  out  and  organized.  For 
us,  too,  and  against  them,  are  the  Gospel,  revivals,  and 
the  Holy  Spirit.  The  whole  history,  too,  of  the  world  is 


REV.  MR.  KIRK'S  ADDRESS.  13 

on  our  side.  That  system  has  been  tried  for  ages,  and 
it  has  never  touched  a  community  but  to  wither,  to  blast, 
and  to  curse.  A  full  exhibition  of  its  history  by  God 
would  bring  on  its  day  of  judgment  and  bum  it  with 
fire.  Be  strong,  therefore,  and  fear  not.  Be  strong  — 
not  in  your  own  strength,  but  in  the  strength  of  God. 
Count  the  cost,  and  aim  at  great  things,  and  expect 
great  things.  Your  first  beginnings  may  be  small,  but 
they  involve  great  principles;  and  future  ages  may 
unfold,  as  the  result  of  this  meeting,  consequences  of 
which  you  would  hardly  dare  this  day  to  dream. 


REV.  MR.  KIRK'S  ADDRESS. 

If  not  pledged  to  express  my  views,  I  would  add 
nothing  to  this  powerful  appeal.  You  have  now  seen 
the  necessity  of  organization,  if  it  were  merely  in  self- 
defence.  Considered  only  intellectually,  and  in  a  prac- 
tical point  of  view,  Romanism  is  a  perfect  specimen  of 
moral  machinery.  Here  is,  indeed,  a  system  of  female 
propagandism  powerful  enough  to  arouse  the  friends  of 
truth  and  freedom  to  vigilance  and  action.  "Sisters  of  the 
Sacred  Heart ! "  "  Sisters  of  the  Most  Precious  Blood  ! " 
watchwords  to  make  Protestants  smile,  but  to  kindle  an 
undying  enthusiasm  in  the  hearts  of  women  whose 
religious  sentiments  have  become  as  absorbing  and 
fervent  as  they  are  superstitious.  A  "Mother-house" 
in  Maryland! — centralization,  organization,  system,  and 
tact,  are  ever  in  the  Roman  movements.  Had  they  but 
the  truth  and  the  Spirit  of  God  with  them,  how  resistless 
would  their  efforts  be  !  And  if  the  friends  of  truth  mean 
to  maintain  it  against  delusion  and  falsehood,  they  must 
take  lessons  of  their  enemies.  But  this  ground  has  been 


14  REV.  MR.  KIRK'S  ADDRESS. 

sufficiently  explored  to-day.  I  would  call  upon  you  to 
glance  at  a  still  broader  view  of  the  occasion  for  such  an 
organization  as  we  have  now  made. 

I.  The  religious  education  of  a  large  portion  of  our 
country  must  at  present  be  secured  by  the  voluntary  efforts 
of  the  Church. 

That  we  must  be  religiously  educated  as  a  nation,  I 
take  to  be  a  conceded  point  of  our  political  creed.  But 
how  is  it  to  be  brought  about  ?  The  Puritan  spirit  is 
no  longer  in  the  governments  nor  the  people.  Education 
does  not  hold  the  place  with  us  which  the  Fathers 
assigned  it  in  the  social  system ;  and  Religion  does  not 
now  hold  the  place  in  Education  which  they  assigned  it. 
The  Western  people,  with  some  most  interesting  excep- 
tions, are  adventurous  and  enterprising  chiefly  in  refer- 
ence to  acquisition  and  political  power,  and  the  immi- 
grants from  Europe  are  almost  entirely  an  encumbrance 
in  this  matter.  Hence  it  is  an  ascertained  fact,  that 
2,000,000  children  are  destitute  of  any  education.  Mere 
compassion  might  induce  us  to  furnish  them  the  means 
of  mental  culture ;  but  the  Providence  of  God  is  appeal- 
ing to  us  by  yet  higher  considerations.  The  great 
interests  of  Truth  and  Freedom  turn,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  on  this  point,  —  whether  the  children  of  the  poor 
shall  receive  any,  and  what,  education.  Never  was 
there  a  better  opportunity  to  make  the  experiment  of  the 
value  of  a  Scriptural  education.  But  the  opportunity 
for  the  experiment  must  be  embraced  by  us  now,  or 
perhaps  lost  for  generations  to  come. 

Much  has  been  said  concerning  the  importance  of 
universal  education  in  a  republic ;  but  enough  has  not 
yet  been  said.  Our  free  institutions  are  resting  on 
20,000,000  people,  of  whom  1,500,000  cannot  read,  and 
of  whom  2,500,000  children  have  no  school.  In  Ohio, 
the  most  enlightened  State  of  the  West,  one-third  have 


REV.  MR.  KIRK'S  ADDRESS.  15 

no  school  privileges.  What,  then,  must  be  the  condition 
of  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  others  7  In  Virginia  one-fourth 
of  the  white  population  cannot  write  their  names  in 
applying  for  the  marriage  license.  In  the  whole  South- 
ern States  one-half  of  the  white  children  have  no  schools. 

Now  who  is  to  look  after  this  multitude  of  embryo 
citizens  ?  The  mere  patriot  ought  to  say,  Things  shall 
not  remain  so.  But  Christians  surely  should  deter- 
mine to  bring  about  a  change.  The  evangelical  churches 
of  our  country  ought  at  once  to  send  forth  two  grades  of 
pious  teachers,  for  the  higher  and  lower  branches  of 
instruction,  to  the  number  of  50,000,  under  a  system  as 
complete  as  that  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society ;  ready 
to  compete  with  the  best  teachers  that  Rome  can  furnish, 
and  to  give  an  opportunity  to  all  the  uneducated  children 
of  our  country  to  receive  a  Christian  education.  We 
should  support  them  among  the  poor,  just  as  we  sustain 
our  Missionaries, — by  helping  those  who  will  help  them- 
selves. And,  besides  these,  we  are  deeply  interested  in 
sending  out  a  considerable  number  of  the  more  accom- 
plished teachers.  This  is  much  needed,  in  order  to 
remove  the  reason  now  assigned  for  sending  the  children 
of  the  better  classes  to  the  Roman  schools.  The  Western 
people  cannot  yet  furnish  themselves  with  the  higher  class 
of  female  schools,  to  compete  with  those  of  the  Romanists. 

II.  But  why  should  the  women  of  New  England,  par- 
ticularly, organize  a  Society  for  that  purpose  ? 

Because  there  is,  by  reason  of  commerce  and  emigra- 
tion, a  surplus  of  nearly  20,000  females  in  New  England, 
who  can  never  become  the  heads  of  families  if  this 
disproportion  continues ;  and  yet  whose  talents  might 
accomplish  much  for  the  world's  good,  if  they  could  find 
employment.  Very  many  of  them  are  longing  for  an 
opportunity  to  do  good,  without  seeing  how  they  can 
accomplish  much.  It  seems  to  be  a  merciful  provision 


16  REV.  MR.  KIRK'S  ADDRESS. 

for  hundreds  of  well  educated  Christian  young  women, 
whose  sex  forbids  their  adventuring  as  their  brothers  do, 
and  yet  who,  if  such  a  Society  will  encourage  them,  and 
send  them  forth,  may  go  cheerfully  and  understandingly 
right  to  the  best  spot  for  them  in  all  that  wide  region. 
Many  may  find  themselves  unprepared  for  the  Foreign 
Service,  who  yet  would  most  thankfully  accept  your  aid 
and  counsel  in  choosing  the  sphere  of  their  labors  in  the 
mission-field  of  the  Great  Valley.  New  England  is  con- 
stantly elevating  the  standard  of  Female  Education,  and 
sending  forth  a  number  of  highly  educated  young  women; 
but  many — most  of  them — are  unable  to  meet  the  ex- 
penses of  a  journey  to  the  West.  They  must  be  furnished 
with  the  means  of  making  this  long  journey ;  and  all 
need  the  aid  which  this  Society  may  furnish,  in  selecting 
their  respective  fields  of  labor.  In  fact,  this  is  one  of 
the  most  interesting  features  of  this  organization,  that  it 
selects  the  sites  for  establishing  schools.  The  Papists 
have  laid  out  the  West  with  the  experienced  eye  of 
generals  :  we  can  compete  with  them  only  by  an  equally 
judicious  choice  of  position  and  designation  of  labors. 

And  there  is,  moreover,  a  special  propriety  in  sending 
well  educated  and  pious  women.  You  see  the  Romanists 
know  what  to  do  with  female  talent.  I  respect  them 
for  their  good  sense  in  a  bad  cause.  There  are  defects 
(peculiar,  at  least  in  degree)  in  the  Western  character, 
for  which  our  Christian  sisters  may  furnish  a  remedy. 
There  is  a  great  lack  of  reverence,  of  the  domestic 
affections,  of  self-control,  of  faith  in  God  and  spiritual 
things.  No  better  substitute  can  be  found  for  a  correct 
maternal  and  domestic  influence  in  these  matters  than 
woman's  gentleness,  exerted  in  the  daily  intercourse  of  a 
teacher.  No  better  aid  to  the  faithful  missionary  and 
colporteur  can  be  sent  than  the  pious  teacher,  who  shall 
be  able  to  take  even  a  maternal  care  of  the  little  children ; 


REV.  MR.  KIRK'S  ADDRESS.  17 

who  may  impart  many  valuable  lessons  to  poor  families, 
in  domestic  economy ;  whose  gentleness,  and  kindness, 
and  dignity,  and  good  sense,  and  piety,  may  give  her  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  persons  of  all  parties. 

There  is,  moreover,  another  very  cogent  consideration : 
— the  men  could  not  be  found  in  sufficient  numbers  to 
do  this  work,  while  so  many  avenues  to  wealth  and  dis- 
tinction are  opening  to  the  youth  of  this  country.  And 
the  economy  of  this  movement  must  recommend  it,  since 
woman  either  desires  or  needs  a  smaller  compensation 
for  services  than  man. 

Such  is  an  unembellished  statement  of  the  considera- 
tions which  appear  to  me  to  commend  this  Society  to  the 
favor  of  our  churches.  If  any  complain  of  the  multipli- 
cation of  societies,  they  may  complain  of  the  whole 
movement  of  Providence.  God  is  calling  to  more  effort, 
and  more  sacrifice  ;  and  the  larger  part  of  it  can  be  more 
effectively  accomplished  through  organizations.  The 
very  fact  that  Rome  is  so  multiplying  her  machinery  in 
this  country,  is  an  indication  that  we  must  change  our 
tactics,  and  meet  her  on  her  ground,  and  adapt  our 
modes  of  defence  to  her  attacks. 

It  may  be  suggested  by  some  that  this  institution  is 
about  to  bring  woman  out  of  her  sphere  into  too  much 
publicity.  There  is  not  a  branch  of  all  this  business 
that  will  require  any  ladies'  speeches,  or  any  other 
appearance  of  ladies  in  public  than  is  sanctioned  by  the 
best  usages  of  society.  If  a  department  of  finance  and 
agency  should  be  needed  in  the  progress  of  the  Society, 
a  sufficient  number  of  competent  men  will  be  very  ready 
to  constitute  a  committee  for  that  purpose.  In  the  West 
the  Home  Missionaries,  and  other  intelligent  friends,  will 
doubtless  do  all  that  may  be  necessary  in  securing  the 
proper  selection  of  places  for  your  teachers,  and  their 
proper  reception  and  protection  there. 


18 


CONSTITUTION 


The  Ladies'  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Education 


THE    WEST. 


ARTICLE  I. 

This  Society  shall  be  called,  "  The  Ladies'  Society  for 
the  Promotion  of  Education  at  the  West." 

ARTICLE  II. 

The  object  of  this  Society  is  to  send  to  the  "Western  States 
competent  female  teachers,  of  unquestionable  piety,  belonging 
to  Congregational  churches  in  New  England. 

ARTICLE  III. 

The  officers  of  the  Society  shall  be, — a  President,  two 
Vice-Presidents,  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  Twenty  Managers. 
These  shall  constitute  a  Board  of  Directors,  five  of  whom 
shall  form  a  quorum.  From  this  Board  an  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  Seven  shall  be  chosen  annually. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President  to  call,  and  preside  at, 
Meetings  of  the  Board,  each  of  which  is  to  be  opened  with 
prayer. 


CONSTITUTION.  19 

ARTICLE  V. 

In  the  absence  of  the  President,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
senior  Vice-President  to  preside,  and  perform  the  duties  of 
President. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  keep  a  record  of  all 
the  proceedings,  and  be  the  organ  of  communication  with 
Auxiliary  Societies  and  with  individuals ;  and  she  shall  perform 
any  other  duties  the  Board  of  Directors  may  assign. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  receive  all  subscrip- 
tions, and  donations  of  moneys  or  other  property;  to  keep 
account  thereof,  and  make  a  report  to  the  Society  at  the  annual 
meeting.  She  will  keep  a  catalogue  of  members,  life  members, 
and  donors. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

The  Board  of  Managers  shall  meet  quarterly,  to  hear  state- 
ments from  the  Executive  Committee,  and  give  counsel  on  such 
points  as  may  be  submitted  to  them.  They  shall  collect  funds 
in  their  respective  churches  and  congregations,  and  pay  over 
the  same  to  the  Treasurer,  at  the  stated  meetings  of  the  Board. 
They  shall  have  power  to  fill  any  vacancies  which  may  occur 
among  their  members. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

The  Executive  Committee  shall  have  charge  of  the  special 
business  of  the  Society,  and  shall  have  power  to  call  their  own 
meetings ;  to  fill  any  vacancies  which  may  occur  among  their 
members ;  to  appropriate  funds  as  shall  be  needed  between  the 
quarterly  meetings;  and  to  make  rules  for  the  selection  of 
teachers,  and  for  their  transportation  and  location.  Three  of 
this  Committee  shall  form  a  quorum. 

ARTICLE  X. 

Any  lady  may  become  a  member  of  this  Society  by  the  pay- 
ment of  not  less  than  One  Dollar  per  annum ;  and  any  person 
paying,  at  any  one  time,  Twenty  Dollars  shall  become  a 
Member  for  Life. 


20  CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

As  the  object  of  this  Society  is  to  send  Female  Teachers  to 
the  West,  from  the  Congregational  Churches  in  every  part  of 
New  England,  it  will  need — and  it  invites — the  co-operation 
of  Ladies  in  the  New  England  States ;  and  any  Association  of 
Ladies  formed  for  the  same  object  with  this  Society,  and  annually 
paying  into  its  treasury,  will  receive  an  Annual  Report  of  its 
Proceedings. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

Alterations  shall  not  be  made  in  this  Constitution,  except  at 
the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society,  and  not  without  the 
recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 


Unhretslty  ol  CaW^  FACIUTY 

jgSSSS3$S5&*?~ 


Tilli   i*4'A™L1Vv'rf\i»-wt*' 
UNIVER^^CA^1^. 


PAMPHLET   BINDER 

==  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
~  Stockton,   Calit. 


A     000490386     o 


Libi 


